If you have red hair, people expect you to have a certain type of energy, especially when it comes to the temper department...brunettes really do get the short end of the stick in my mind. Expected to be fairly smart, reasonable/realistic, logical, practical, sometimes called mousey, respectful, grounded ect, ect, ect. But when your a blond, people really do not expect a lot out of you. They expect you to be Barbie-ish, flippant, unintelligent, halfwitted, scatterbrained, insane (look out for the crazy blond!), great arm candy (don't worry hunny, at least your pretty!) and so on and so on.
I am a natural blond, really. I do add highlights to get it to the color it is now, but seriously I am a natural blond (dirty blond some may call the color). As a blond I really do have more fun. Mostly with being able to pull off what I like to refer to as "Moments of Greatness"...things that other hair colors would face the Spanish Inquisition for. One such event happened yesterday when I was teaching my weekend 3 day class.
I teach First Aid...and as such I have to be able to not only stand for long periods of time lecturing, but also be able to deal with the up and down motions of getting to the practical area, and demonstrating. A number of months ago I determined that it would be in my best interests to invest in jeggings. These pants would give me the look of jeans, but with the fluidity of LuLu pants.
Yesterday, as I was bending down to inspect knots my students did while splinting a simulated lower leg fracture, a Moment of Greatness seized me...the crotch of my beloved jeggings blew right out. POOF! Yes, it totally did make that sound. I froze, complete with a deer in the head lights look plastered all over my face. My coo-ca was now free for the world to see, tenuously covered in the brand new VS undies I had gotten on sale the day before (thanks AD for the heads up on the sale btw). The students started to howl in laughter, and one of them went so far as to start cracking fat jokes. Seriously? FML.
When the students were writing their quiz at the end of the day, I was sitting at the instructors table, thinking: Was this really the worst moment of greatness that I had managed to accomplish? The answer was a big fat NO.
So here are a few of my favorite Moments of Greatness that I have achieved to date:
- getting hit by the Prime Ministers black SUV. Yep. Totally happened. I was in Ottawa a number of years ago working with the NAIT Students Association and I was there to lobby MP's, Senators and staffers alike on Apprenticeship Student Issues. I was touring parliamentary grounds, specifically the library. I looked at my watch, realized that I was going to be late for a meeting, I did not have my briefing notes with me and would have to go back to the hotel and rush back. This lead me to ask the tour guide for the quickest way out, which was out the backside of the library. I was running, in heels, not paying attention, but on the sidewalk and WHAM! The front passenger door swings open, out pops this huge body guard, and I am flat on my ass, winded. Stephen Harper climbs out of the back passenger side, waves and walks into the back library door that I had just ran out of. No one helped me up, it was super fantastic. Especially when I had a meeting with PMO staffers the next day and was recognized.
- walking into walls on more than one occasion. I was on the phone with my younger brother and putzing around my condo a few years back...not paying attention again, and thud! walked right into the end of the hallway wall. Funny thing about this? My brother commented on how I should be looking where I am going when walking around...this must happen to me TOO often, cause remember, I was on the phone with him.
- having an ex bf that is now a city cop, pull you over for speeding. This is mortifying enough, also a technical conflict of interest (I personally love this loop hole!), but the best part of this, I was half naked. Late for a date, I decided that stripping down in the car while driving would be in my best interest. I even had to change into a strapless bra, which is what I was doing when the lights came on in the rear view. "Hi Sean, how are you? Uniform looks great btw" "Do I want to know?" "Probably not...but how much over was I?" "10km. Where were you headed?" "Sweet, not as much as I thought then. Umm...date night?" ticket book flips shut "Finish getting dressed. Don't speed. Have a good night. Good Luck"
There are plenty of others: I have locked my students in a classroom before, with me in the hallway, I have been so off on my gaydar, that I have hit on gay men (note the pluralization here...this also has happened more than once) and sometimes when running, the natural gas builds up so much that when it comes out the bottom half, I sound like a machine gun when passing people (my running partner HT, laughed at this every time).
Performing moments of greatness is just apart of being human I suppose. Over the years I have learned to tough it out, roll with it and laugh. I mean, I'm a blond. I am expected to embarrass the hell out of myself on a routine basis, right?
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
A State of Mental Preparedness
This last Monday I officially started back at hot yoga after renewing my membership with Moksha Yoga. I was totally thrilled about it, mainly because you sweat like a mfer, but you see results in weight loss and definition fairly quickly if you challenge yourself during the class (which I do, every time I am there).
Just as I was getting ready to go into 'dancers pose' a wave of uneasiness settled in on me fairly quickly. I brushed it off, got into the pose and held it for as long as required. Shortly afterwards, we moved into floor work and during the back stretches/strengthening, this is when it hit me full force:
I start 4 months of marathon training in 2 weeks. I am in a relationship that is awesome, and I really need to acknowledge to myself that welder mouse is now my bf. I opened up Blue Box First Aid and need to ensure not only its success but longevity. And my house flooded.
At the time, I felt that I was not mentally prepared for any of it and darn near had a breakdown right then and there in the yoga studio. Thank goodness that it was already hot in there, so my face was already red, and with the sweat, the few tears that did fall went unnoticed.
One of my all time favorite quotes goes as follows: Anyone can give up, its the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength.
Even though I felt overwhelmed, I had such a moment of clarity. The only thing that has really been holding me back for the last few months, as been me and my own hangups on things.
Training: Yes, training for a marathon last year was one of the toughest physical and mental things that I ever did, just to say I did it (aside from climbing Mt Sinai at 2 am). I was in amazing shape, I was calm, and more importantly, I could eat what I wanted without real concern. I just didnt drink during training. Quickly breaking things down, I realized that I was more upset about having to go dry, than having a constant blister on my pinky toes, to be physically exhausted for 16 straight weeks and to listen to angry rock music to propel me upwards during hill training. Marathon training is a bag drive, no lie, but I did it once, and darn it! I am doing it again.
The New BF: I never thought that I would be in a semi serious relationship again so soon after my ex. Especially one with such an amazingly independent person. Welder Mouse rocks, and I want to keep him. I am throwing societies ideals out the window with this one, and rolling with it as it comes.
Blue Box First Aid: I am a small business owner now. Time to keep that nose to the grindstone, find clients, work my tail off, find more clients. In between, I get to have a "life". I have heard of the concept before, but never figured that I could obtain it one day. See the section above entitled The New BF, and I am sure that one can piece this together.
My House Flooded: I rent. I have fantastic property managers that had someone over to the house to start working on the clean up and repairs before I even left yoga Monday. I could not have asked for better treatment. It has all been taken care of, so I shouldn't have worried me to begin with.
All of these things, aside from the business owning, I have done or handled before. This time I realized that I do not have to be the sole decision maker, or the one dealing with everything every minute of every day. I have people that I really can count on to help me through things. Friends and family (blood and hand picked) alike.
My state of mental preparedness is solid now. Jump in, both feet, ask questions on the way down and LIVE.
Just as I was getting ready to go into 'dancers pose' a wave of uneasiness settled in on me fairly quickly. I brushed it off, got into the pose and held it for as long as required. Shortly afterwards, we moved into floor work and during the back stretches/strengthening, this is when it hit me full force:
I start 4 months of marathon training in 2 weeks. I am in a relationship that is awesome, and I really need to acknowledge to myself that welder mouse is now my bf. I opened up Blue Box First Aid and need to ensure not only its success but longevity. And my house flooded.
At the time, I felt that I was not mentally prepared for any of it and darn near had a breakdown right then and there in the yoga studio. Thank goodness that it was already hot in there, so my face was already red, and with the sweat, the few tears that did fall went unnoticed.
One of my all time favorite quotes goes as follows: Anyone can give up, its the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength.
Even though I felt overwhelmed, I had such a moment of clarity. The only thing that has really been holding me back for the last few months, as been me and my own hangups on things.
Training: Yes, training for a marathon last year was one of the toughest physical and mental things that I ever did, just to say I did it (aside from climbing Mt Sinai at 2 am). I was in amazing shape, I was calm, and more importantly, I could eat what I wanted without real concern. I just didnt drink during training. Quickly breaking things down, I realized that I was more upset about having to go dry, than having a constant blister on my pinky toes, to be physically exhausted for 16 straight weeks and to listen to angry rock music to propel me upwards during hill training. Marathon training is a bag drive, no lie, but I did it once, and darn it! I am doing it again.
The New BF: I never thought that I would be in a semi serious relationship again so soon after my ex. Especially one with such an amazingly independent person. Welder Mouse rocks, and I want to keep him. I am throwing societies ideals out the window with this one, and rolling with it as it comes.
Blue Box First Aid: I am a small business owner now. Time to keep that nose to the grindstone, find clients, work my tail off, find more clients. In between, I get to have a "life". I have heard of the concept before, but never figured that I could obtain it one day. See the section above entitled The New BF, and I am sure that one can piece this together.
My House Flooded: I rent. I have fantastic property managers that had someone over to the house to start working on the clean up and repairs before I even left yoga Monday. I could not have asked for better treatment. It has all been taken care of, so I shouldn't have worried me to begin with.
All of these things, aside from the business owning, I have done or handled before. This time I realized that I do not have to be the sole decision maker, or the one dealing with everything every minute of every day. I have people that I really can count on to help me through things. Friends and family (blood and hand picked) alike.
My state of mental preparedness is solid now. Jump in, both feet, ask questions on the way down and LIVE.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Balance or a Case of the Mondays?
When I first started writing this blog, it was meant to be a way that I could vent frustrations and express new hopes. I had exited out of a relationship that was literally just going through the motions, 4 months before my first post. My professional life was starting to really heat up and take off, and I thought to myself, why can I not have success in both areas?? I took a leap of faith.
And here we are now.
My professional life is still on track (I say this as I a cross my fingers and look to the sky with longing) and my personal one is starting to becoming attractive again, all 6 foot 3 inches of him.
The last couple of weeks have really got me thinking, and honestly mulling over things is not what I do best. I am more of a think on her feet kinda gal, weighting options thoroughly, and quickly. Having time only means I over analyze things to the umpteenth degree.
Work: I taught 2 one day classes for private companies over the last 3 weeks...thus netting me more than double what I would bust my hide to make in 4 days. Awesome!! But now that I have a taste of it, do I really want to forge ahead and make a go of it as a private instructor? Outcome: ahhh, ummmm, dang. About that, flip. No idea.
Home: My dryer hose broke a few days ago, a quick fix, I knew that I needed aluminum tape to fix it...welder mouse said it was a blue job and that he would do it. I conceded. But I still wound up fixing it. Outcome: Pink and blue jobs cross over.
Work: I got sick on Friday last week, which resulted in a mad scramble at work for people I classify as co-workers, or who auto correct makes references to as my 'cilantros'. Long story short, my 1 sick day means I do not get paid, and I lost a class on the weekend...so 1 day turned into 3 unpaid days. Outcome: 3 unpaid days and an overwhelming feeling of awkwardness when I came into work this morning.
Home: Last night the dryer hose broke right where I allegedly fixed it. Outcome: may be some pink and some blue jobs shouldn't cross after all.
Work: On Monday's, we do a re-certification class...meaning you pick up your books a head of time, study, and come the day of the class, you walk in, show me (aka the instructor) the skills, write the test, if you pass you leave and have a great week. If you don't pass, you reschedule, and I will more than likely see you show up in one of my full two day classes later that week. As one would expect, things never go so well on Mondays. Today, my class treated me with contempt and wrote as much on their reviews. Outcome: I wish I could fail people based purely on attitude.
Home: I came home today to greet the one person I knew that would give me a hug no matter how crummy their day was, and still be happy to see me...that's right, Mr Ari. But he wasn't so happy that I was home, as much as he was to be let out of his kennel. Apparently with all the rain, the sump pump in my suite must have failed, cause he was tip toeing around in his kennel that was plumb soaked with water. Outcome: When the maintenance guy gets here within the hour, I am sooo hitting him up to fix the dryer hose as well.
Looking at everything now, I can either chalk this up to a bad case of the Monday's or that in some weird way I have obtained balance in both work and professional life. 3 disagreeable things on either end, however unfortunate, still equals balance.
Things are looking up though...work: Blue Box First Aid is now open for business and home: I have camping to look forward to with welder mouse!
And here we are now.
My professional life is still on track (I say this as I a cross my fingers and look to the sky with longing) and my personal one is starting to becoming attractive again, all 6 foot 3 inches of him.
The last couple of weeks have really got me thinking, and honestly mulling over things is not what I do best. I am more of a think on her feet kinda gal, weighting options thoroughly, and quickly. Having time only means I over analyze things to the umpteenth degree.
Work: I taught 2 one day classes for private companies over the last 3 weeks...thus netting me more than double what I would bust my hide to make in 4 days. Awesome!! But now that I have a taste of it, do I really want to forge ahead and make a go of it as a private instructor? Outcome: ahhh, ummmm, dang. About that, flip. No idea.
Home: My dryer hose broke a few days ago, a quick fix, I knew that I needed aluminum tape to fix it...welder mouse said it was a blue job and that he would do it. I conceded. But I still wound up fixing it. Outcome: Pink and blue jobs cross over.
Work: I got sick on Friday last week, which resulted in a mad scramble at work for people I classify as co-workers, or who auto correct makes references to as my 'cilantros'. Long story short, my 1 sick day means I do not get paid, and I lost a class on the weekend...so 1 day turned into 3 unpaid days. Outcome: 3 unpaid days and an overwhelming feeling of awkwardness when I came into work this morning.
Home: Last night the dryer hose broke right where I allegedly fixed it. Outcome: may be some pink and some blue jobs shouldn't cross after all.
Work: On Monday's, we do a re-certification class...meaning you pick up your books a head of time, study, and come the day of the class, you walk in, show me (aka the instructor) the skills, write the test, if you pass you leave and have a great week. If you don't pass, you reschedule, and I will more than likely see you show up in one of my full two day classes later that week. As one would expect, things never go so well on Mondays. Today, my class treated me with contempt and wrote as much on their reviews. Outcome: I wish I could fail people based purely on attitude.
Home: I came home today to greet the one person I knew that would give me a hug no matter how crummy their day was, and still be happy to see me...that's right, Mr Ari. But he wasn't so happy that I was home, as much as he was to be let out of his kennel. Apparently with all the rain, the sump pump in my suite must have failed, cause he was tip toeing around in his kennel that was plumb soaked with water. Outcome: When the maintenance guy gets here within the hour, I am sooo hitting him up to fix the dryer hose as well.
Looking at everything now, I can either chalk this up to a bad case of the Monday's or that in some weird way I have obtained balance in both work and professional life. 3 disagreeable things on either end, however unfortunate, still equals balance.
Things are looking up though...work: Blue Box First Aid is now open for business and home: I have camping to look forward to with welder mouse!
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Team Loyalty
Sitting tonight with CC, watching Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals, with the Boston Bruins and the Vancouver Canucks all tied up at 3 game a piece, and I got to wondering: when in a relationship, which team to you cheer for?
I know couples that have been together for a long, long time and generally get along very very well. But when it comes to their individual sports teams, gloves come off and its no holes barred. And on the other side of things, I know couples that have matching unitards in "their" teams colors. So which way is the right way to go?
In talking with CC, she outlined that the success to any long term relationship (as demonstrated with her parents 20 year marriage), is that you have 2 tv's, with 2 separate connections (cable or satelite) and at least 1 independent vacation from each other per year. My grandparents kind of follow along the same lines, although, my grandmother is especially gifted in blocking out anything to do with sports...but I guess thats a hazard of living with 5 boys.
I ponder this because a small dilemma with my choice in teams for tonight's game. I started watching the game, knowing full well that I was going to be cheering for Boston...its not that I have loyalty to the team, they just played the best out of the series and thus earned my support (I've come along way...I used to cheer for teams based on cuteness of players or team colors that I liked). Welder mouse on the other hand was cheering for Vancouver, and has been since the rest of the Canadian teams were knocked out of the series.
I tried to come up with a number of different circumstances to possibly explain away whom I was cheering for if the time came. CC just laughed at me, and called me on the BS answers I was coming up with.
May be in the long run, who you cheer for as a sports team should be filed under "don't go there" along with politics and religion when in mixed company. And I totally dig the 2 tv's with separate connections idea too...that way when welder mouse wants to watch "Skating with the Stars" (cause that's what people cheering for Vancouver should be watching), I can turn on UFC.
I know couples that have been together for a long, long time and generally get along very very well. But when it comes to their individual sports teams, gloves come off and its no holes barred. And on the other side of things, I know couples that have matching unitards in "their" teams colors. So which way is the right way to go?
In talking with CC, she outlined that the success to any long term relationship (as demonstrated with her parents 20 year marriage), is that you have 2 tv's, with 2 separate connections (cable or satelite) and at least 1 independent vacation from each other per year. My grandparents kind of follow along the same lines, although, my grandmother is especially gifted in blocking out anything to do with sports...but I guess thats a hazard of living with 5 boys.
I ponder this because a small dilemma with my choice in teams for tonight's game. I started watching the game, knowing full well that I was going to be cheering for Boston...its not that I have loyalty to the team, they just played the best out of the series and thus earned my support (I've come along way...I used to cheer for teams based on cuteness of players or team colors that I liked). Welder mouse on the other hand was cheering for Vancouver, and has been since the rest of the Canadian teams were knocked out of the series.
I tried to come up with a number of different circumstances to possibly explain away whom I was cheering for if the time came. CC just laughed at me, and called me on the BS answers I was coming up with.
May be in the long run, who you cheer for as a sports team should be filed under "don't go there" along with politics and religion when in mixed company. And I totally dig the 2 tv's with separate connections idea too...that way when welder mouse wants to watch "Skating with the Stars" (cause that's what people cheering for Vancouver should be watching), I can turn on UFC.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
It Comes in 3's
It has been one of those days where everything has been polished to a high shine and falls exactly into place...not once, not twice, but three times.
The old saying goes "Everything happens in 3's"
Deaths, births (usually relating to gender), marriages, engagements, anniversaries, job loss, job gain, promotions, anything good, and everything bad. In 3's, or groupings evenly divided by 3 for some strange reason.
In talking with a few people, some think that it is a mental trick of sorts, others, because our society says it happens, but most agree, it just happens.
Just after lunch today I received news about a very exciting new venture that could possibly enable me to make more, but work less and be more flexible with where I live. Around 6pm tonight, one of my besties GHB called to say that she had one of the most sensational job interviews today and was told right away that she was in the top 3 interviewed out of 15 people...the company she applied with will be hiring between 2-4 people. This job pays roughly 20k more a year and has a wicked bonus plan. Then I get a text while in a movie with another bestie from welder mouse...he was offered a job where he used to work, that would enable him to come home every night, as opposed to being away for a week and then back for a week.
3 new ventures, all relating to work, to 3 people, within 6 hours. All offers are huge moves for each of us, that would allow for more of a "life" perhaps.
Maybe, just maybe, the power of 3 is on us right now...or maybe two similar things happened within a short time space, so I went looking for a third. So is it an old wives tale, a load of hooey, some trick of the mind or could something significant be really happening? Either way, I feel so exhilarated that I am going to have trouble sleeping tonight!!
The old saying goes "Everything happens in 3's"
Deaths, births (usually relating to gender), marriages, engagements, anniversaries, job loss, job gain, promotions, anything good, and everything bad. In 3's, or groupings evenly divided by 3 for some strange reason.
In talking with a few people, some think that it is a mental trick of sorts, others, because our society says it happens, but most agree, it just happens.
Just after lunch today I received news about a very exciting new venture that could possibly enable me to make more, but work less and be more flexible with where I live. Around 6pm tonight, one of my besties GHB called to say that she had one of the most sensational job interviews today and was told right away that she was in the top 3 interviewed out of 15 people...the company she applied with will be hiring between 2-4 people. This job pays roughly 20k more a year and has a wicked bonus plan. Then I get a text while in a movie with another bestie from welder mouse...he was offered a job where he used to work, that would enable him to come home every night, as opposed to being away for a week and then back for a week.
3 new ventures, all relating to work, to 3 people, within 6 hours. All offers are huge moves for each of us, that would allow for more of a "life" perhaps.
Maybe, just maybe, the power of 3 is on us right now...or maybe two similar things happened within a short time space, so I went looking for a third. So is it an old wives tale, a load of hooey, some trick of the mind or could something significant be really happening? Either way, I feel so exhilarated that I am going to have trouble sleeping tonight!!
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Crazy Idea or Shrewd Planning?
Camp: a place where tents, huts or other temporary shelters are set up, as by soldiers, nomads or travelers.
Campers: people who use such shelters (see camp).
This 5 foot 3 inch city mouse thought it would be a heck of an idea to go camping over the Canada Day long weekend, with a 6 foot 3 inch welder mouse. "I have an idea! I have a HUUUUGGGEEE tent that I never get to use, why don't we get out of the city for a while and go camping?" "Sure! I am always up for an adventure...where?" "Got that coin of yours? Heads equals west, tails south" "West it is!"
Not going to lie, it has been a substantial amount of time since this little gal went camping, of the traditional kind. Over the last number of years I have grown soft...camping equaled staying at a 4.5 star hotel (the .5 star means that there isn't a spa)...the idea of roughing it, still equaled a private bathroom, running water, a nice comfy bed and basic cable so I could watch commercial's (I do not have cable by choice, because there is so much online these days, why bother spending the extra money? Downside...never get to see commercial's).
I booked a campsite in Jasper, one that I used to stay at when I was younger and on family trips...its fairly close to the hot springs, and I vaguely remember having fun there. I made sure to book online, so that a refund if cancelled would be kinda difficult to obtain.
But here in lies my distress - no electronic devices allowed. The laptop I said I would bring so we could watch movies, banned. iPad too. My phone is to be turned off and kept in the vehicle (this I can totally handle). the iPod is allowed along with the docking station for some tunes, but I have to figure out a way to ensure it has power to recharge.
In talking with a few people about how I am TOTALLY excited to go on the trip, but nervous about my possible technological with drawl's and my future break down, I asked for what their take on the situation was.
A few people said if I bring enough beer, the weekend will be fantastic. Oh, and copper pipe pieces to make the fire turn colors. But the majority commented on how camping is oh so romantic and that it was a shrewd plan on my part. In having only recently reconnected to that touch feely side that I kept locked in a corner closet, I was confounded on how this could be romantic. Clarification was required at this point...my poor little head was spinning, because how could I be shrewd and romantic at the same time??
Your alone with the person. You are forced to get to know them. To spend time with them. To play cards with them for 3 hours. To wake up fresh faced, with no makeup on (unless your in a campsite that has good bathrooms). To cook with them. To sit in front of the fire and tell stories. To hike with. And its dark, with a crackling fire. A really good friend of mine told me that when her and her man are having troubles, she books a camping or hiking trip so that they are forced to deal with each other and not run away and hide from the issues. Could easily explain why her wedding later this month is in the mountains.
I have had some time to absorb all this. Process. And I am calmer about the whole thing and even MORE excited. This little city mouse, is ready to make camping her b*tch.
Campers: people who use such shelters (see camp).
This 5 foot 3 inch city mouse thought it would be a heck of an idea to go camping over the Canada Day long weekend, with a 6 foot 3 inch welder mouse. "I have an idea! I have a HUUUUGGGEEE tent that I never get to use, why don't we get out of the city for a while and go camping?" "Sure! I am always up for an adventure...where?" "Got that coin of yours? Heads equals west, tails south" "West it is!"
Not going to lie, it has been a substantial amount of time since this little gal went camping, of the traditional kind. Over the last number of years I have grown soft...camping equaled staying at a 4.5 star hotel (the .5 star means that there isn't a spa)...the idea of roughing it, still equaled a private bathroom, running water, a nice comfy bed and basic cable so I could watch commercial's (I do not have cable by choice, because there is so much online these days, why bother spending the extra money? Downside...never get to see commercial's).
I booked a campsite in Jasper, one that I used to stay at when I was younger and on family trips...its fairly close to the hot springs, and I vaguely remember having fun there. I made sure to book online, so that a refund if cancelled would be kinda difficult to obtain.
But here in lies my distress - no electronic devices allowed. The laptop I said I would bring so we could watch movies, banned. iPad too. My phone is to be turned off and kept in the vehicle (this I can totally handle). the iPod is allowed along with the docking station for some tunes, but I have to figure out a way to ensure it has power to recharge.
In talking with a few people about how I am TOTALLY excited to go on the trip, but nervous about my possible technological with drawl's and my future break down, I asked for what their take on the situation was.
A few people said if I bring enough beer, the weekend will be fantastic. Oh, and copper pipe pieces to make the fire turn colors. But the majority commented on how camping is oh so romantic and that it was a shrewd plan on my part. In having only recently reconnected to that touch feely side that I kept locked in a corner closet, I was confounded on how this could be romantic. Clarification was required at this point...my poor little head was spinning, because how could I be shrewd and romantic at the same time??
Your alone with the person. You are forced to get to know them. To spend time with them. To play cards with them for 3 hours. To wake up fresh faced, with no makeup on (unless your in a campsite that has good bathrooms). To cook with them. To sit in front of the fire and tell stories. To hike with. And its dark, with a crackling fire. A really good friend of mine told me that when her and her man are having troubles, she books a camping or hiking trip so that they are forced to deal with each other and not run away and hide from the issues. Could easily explain why her wedding later this month is in the mountains.
I have had some time to absorb all this. Process. And I am calmer about the whole thing and even MORE excited. This little city mouse, is ready to make camping her b*tch.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
How Tiffany and Co Ruined Me
Its a small little sparrow blue box, tied with winter white ribbon into a smart little bow with tails hanging low, stamped on the top, and then put into a sparrow blue bag with white handles...also stamped with Tiffany and Co in black lettering.
Since 1837, Tiffany has been offering the worlds finest diamond jewelry and outstanding customer service. They stand behind their products with lifetime warranty's, they ethically source their stones, they cut the stones to maximize brilliance, they follow stricter stone standards and they have a mutha freaking payment plan.
Having been to a number of stagettes over the past few weeks, I have seen my fair share of engagement rings in this seasons styles...gold, white gold, and platinum metals, and square, round, princess and heart shaped stones. I have ooh'd and awwww'd at each one. And let me tell you, some of them were more than 3 months salary for sure.
I have always maintained that by the time I get around to becoming engaged to someone, that the person should know my style and should be able to pick out a ring that would not only be my style, but suit me too. Holy cows was I wrong! So wrong in fact I made one of my besties GHB to promise that she would take matters into her own hands if that time ever came again...meaning, take the guy ring shopping and don't let him buy me something she wasn't willing to look at for the next 50 years.
Enter the Tiffany and Co Ring Finder app, free off iTunes App Store, and this is where my ruin starts. 44 Styles. All kinds of stones and metals. It shows the actual size of the diamond, and you can pair it up with recommended choices on wedding bands. It will also show you the approximate cost of the ring your choosing. I am soooooo screwed.
I picked out a ring...to the tune of $47, 500 USD. This does not include the wedding band. Nor the groom.
Having recently been asked to move across the province by a gentleman in a joking conversation, I quickly quipped back, not unless I am heavily bribed by a little blue box, with a white ribbon, stamped Tiffany and Co.
Now I totally know that I should be realistic, and I am well aware that I will more than likely not ever get that particular ring, heck! I am not even dating anyone right now, but can a girl dare to dream it will happen?
Since 1837, Tiffany has been offering the worlds finest diamond jewelry and outstanding customer service. They stand behind their products with lifetime warranty's, they ethically source their stones, they cut the stones to maximize brilliance, they follow stricter stone standards and they have a mutha freaking payment plan.
Having been to a number of stagettes over the past few weeks, I have seen my fair share of engagement rings in this seasons styles...gold, white gold, and platinum metals, and square, round, princess and heart shaped stones. I have ooh'd and awwww'd at each one. And let me tell you, some of them were more than 3 months salary for sure.
I have always maintained that by the time I get around to becoming engaged to someone, that the person should know my style and should be able to pick out a ring that would not only be my style, but suit me too. Holy cows was I wrong! So wrong in fact I made one of my besties GHB to promise that she would take matters into her own hands if that time ever came again...meaning, take the guy ring shopping and don't let him buy me something she wasn't willing to look at for the next 50 years.
Enter the Tiffany and Co Ring Finder app, free off iTunes App Store, and this is where my ruin starts. 44 Styles. All kinds of stones and metals. It shows the actual size of the diamond, and you can pair it up with recommended choices on wedding bands. It will also show you the approximate cost of the ring your choosing. I am soooooo screwed.
I picked out a ring...to the tune of $47, 500 USD. This does not include the wedding band. Nor the groom.
Having recently been asked to move across the province by a gentleman in a joking conversation, I quickly quipped back, not unless I am heavily bribed by a little blue box, with a white ribbon, stamped Tiffany and Co.
Now I totally know that I should be realistic, and I am well aware that I will more than likely not ever get that particular ring, heck! I am not even dating anyone right now, but can a girl dare to dream it will happen?
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Butterflies
It is hard for me to NOT be excited these days. Excited to get up in the morning (not as much as WestJet check in agents, but pretty darned close!), excited to go to work, excited to teach, excited to see people, excited to talk to people and excited for my phone to silently come to life by lighting up.
I take a look around and think that everything is working out the way it is supposed to, and I have had a silly grin on my face since Friday of last week...it seems almost permanent now.
I have had amazing hair days, the makeup goes on without smudging, the dog is behaving, I haven't dripped any unknown substance on my clothing during any meal, I haven't been wishing I could crawl back under the covers and hide...AND, I found a couch on sale this last Sunday, and when I checked the store today it was still there and I was able to have a friend help me get it home within 15 minutes of the purchase going through.
In short I have the general feeling as if I am going to Disneyland or Disney World the next day...and I have been feeling that with more and more intensity over the last few days. I have even planned a trip to get me even more out of my comfort zone, one that involves nature and 'roughing it'. Laptops and cell phones have been banned for 4 full days. AND I CANNOT WAIT FOR IT TO START!
Even with all this happiness that I am feeling, I take a hard look around. It is so easy for people to fall into a negative trap. Easier to be mad, than to try and work things out. Easier to give up, rather than see something through to the end. Easier to be bitter, rather than letting things go. Easier to let things stew, than talk with the person you are supposed to be in love with. It is enough to bring anyone down!
But I have something on my side...a fluttering in my stomach that I haven't felt in a long long time...something that is keeping this excitement going and helping it grow...butterflies.
There may be a unicorn in my midst.
I take a look around and think that everything is working out the way it is supposed to, and I have had a silly grin on my face since Friday of last week...it seems almost permanent now.
I have had amazing hair days, the makeup goes on without smudging, the dog is behaving, I haven't dripped any unknown substance on my clothing during any meal, I haven't been wishing I could crawl back under the covers and hide...AND, I found a couch on sale this last Sunday, and when I checked the store today it was still there and I was able to have a friend help me get it home within 15 minutes of the purchase going through.
In short I have the general feeling as if I am going to Disneyland or Disney World the next day...and I have been feeling that with more and more intensity over the last few days. I have even planned a trip to get me even more out of my comfort zone, one that involves nature and 'roughing it'. Laptops and cell phones have been banned for 4 full days. AND I CANNOT WAIT FOR IT TO START!
Even with all this happiness that I am feeling, I take a hard look around. It is so easy for people to fall into a negative trap. Easier to be mad, than to try and work things out. Easier to give up, rather than see something through to the end. Easier to be bitter, rather than letting things go. Easier to let things stew, than talk with the person you are supposed to be in love with. It is enough to bring anyone down!
But I have something on my side...a fluttering in my stomach that I haven't felt in a long long time...something that is keeping this excitement going and helping it grow...butterflies.
There may be a unicorn in my midst.
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